The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has threatened to strike out the criminal case instituted against a former governor of Plateau State and senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if the commission continues to delay proceeding with flimsy excuses.

Justice Daniel Longji said he has the constitutional right to strike out the case, “but the defence counsel has not made that application; he has only reluctantly agreed to the adjournment”.

He was reacting to the plea by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Henry Ejiga, who said that the commission could not produce the witnesses in court on Tuesday for security reasons.

He did not only ask for the adjournment of the case from Tuesday to another date, he also asked the court to vacate the proceedings slated for Wednesday and Thursday.
The case was slated for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The judge said that if for security reasons the commission could not produce the witnesses in its custody, it should have produced the ones that are not in the5 commission’s custody, who are not at any security risk.

He added that he was neither for the prosecution nor for the defence, but that he was out to use the sword of righteousness.
Ejiga had cited security reasons why the EFCC could not produce the witnesses to testify in court.

He said: “We are of great constraint as we have made effort to ensure that we produce the witnesses so that proceeding can go on, but unfortunately, we were informed of some security challenges, as a result we are unable to present the witnesses today.

“But for the respect we have for this honourable court, we have decided to come rather than writing to inform the court. In the circumstance, we urge My Lord for an adjournment and to vacate the subsequent days of tomorrow and next.”

Source: Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Thisdaylive.com

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Court Threatens to Strike Out Case Against Sen. Jang, as EFCC Fails to Produce Witnesses